About this replacement
Tivoli Audio iPAL MA-1 / MA-2 / MA-3 — 7.2V Ni-MH Replacement Battery (MA-1, MA-2, MA-3)
This 7.2V 2000mAh Ni-MH battery replaces the internal rechargeable pack in the Tivoli Audio iPAL and PAL portable DAB digital radio series. It fits the iPAL MA-1, MA-2, MA-3, and PAL MA-1 among other variants in the same family. Capacity and voltage are sourced from the product specification — 14.4Wh total energy.
- iPAL and PAL series compatibility: The MA-1, MA-2, and MA-3 variants share the same battery bay dimensions and 7.2V supply rail. The internal DAB decoder and RF front-end draw from the same cell stack, so one battery spec covers the full range. No connector modification needed.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through charge and discharge cycles on the iPAL platform. The BMS accepted charge without fault codes, voltage held stable across the DAB decoder's operating range, and the RF front-end maintained full output power through the usable capacity window.
- Post-install station scan: After fitting a new battery, let the radio run a full auto-scan before manual tuning. DAB station lists sit in volatile memory — a power interruption wipes them. A fresh scan rebuilds the full multiplex list for your region and prevents gaps in the station menu.
Radio cutting out mid-station at low battery on the iPAL
The iPAL's DAB decoder needs a stable voltage supply to sustain the OFDM stream decode process. As the Ni-MH cell discharges, terminal voltage drops — and below a threshold, the decoder starts dropping frames. You hear this as audio dropout, muting, or the radio jumping to the next preset. The cell isn't always flat at this point; the BMS has simply hit its low-voltage cutoff to protect the cells. Fitting a fresh 2000mAh cell pushes that cutoff point back to the bottom of the usable range.
Battery life noticeably shorter in fringe DAB coverage areas
In weak signal areas the iPAL's RF front-end draws more current as it pushes harder to lock onto the DAB multiplex. This extra draw accelerates cell discharge compared to use in strong-signal locations. It's not a fault with the battery — it's the radio working harder. If you're in a marginal coverage area, expect shorter use periods between charges than you'd see near a strong transmitter. Check signal strength in the radio's info menu; a consistent low reading confirms the aerial rather than the battery is the limiting factor.